Done deal I hear

If anyone can get the usual big name under achievers that Hull sign firing then it would appear to be him.

A great move for him.

For all the posturing he was never going to get a job at a regular top 4 club.

He now has an opportunity to add to his CV and if he makes a go of this his next move will be to a Wigan, Saints, Leeds, or Wire.

You reckon? I'd have had him at Wigan, just wasn't convinced it was a given that he would come. It will be interesting to see if he can replicate the success outside his hometown though.

Too much of a risk to go from a small club to a big club and it be work out well.

Struggling to think when it has to be honest.

I’m sure there are times it has, but not that I can think of and I can think of plenty of times it hasn’t.

Hull is the perfect next step for him in my opinion.

I’m still comfortable with Lam, but even if he were to go I wouldn’t have wanted Watson.

Why wasn't he?

Please don't waste anyone's time and trot out the unproven, big fish, small pond etc lines. He's done an excellent job at Salford (well above what he should have achieved) and that's far and above what Madge, Holbrook, Lam and Robinson had done before coming to SL. Heck if you look at Trent Robinson he finished 6th and 4th with Catalan and then ended up at one of the world's most prestigious clubs.

Why do young British coaches either have to jump through hoops to get a top, top job or are constantly put down?

Robinson Catalan's > Roosters
Madge Wigan > Souths

As big as we are, South's was a step up for Madge simply because of the players they had and the strength of the NRL.

Well the Aussies don't even consider SL experience as valid. Hence Holbrook is a 'rookie coach'.

Tony Smith from Huddersfield to Leeds, Millward from Leigh to Saints, Powell from Fev to Cas, McDermott from London to Leeds?

I'd argue that Souths are a bigger club than we are.

Eric Hughes from Saints to Wigan.



Hang on. I don't think I understood the question.

They say that, but I'm sure when guys like Madge, Holbrook and Robinson were signed up they'd have looked at their performances in SL.

The NRL are a lot more willing to offer top jobs to guys who show talent. Todd Payten, Morris & O'Brian are all NRL head coaches with no previous experience (outside of being an assistant). Interestingly Morris is the coach of the sharks (champs in 2016) and Payten has moved to the Cowboys (champs in 15). It's not like they've taken over clubs who haven't recently won the league.

Yet over here, you can actually be a head coach and do well, but aren't good enough for a shot at the top 4.

And you'd probably be right. The NRL has a rich heritage, that hasn't been diminished in the way the game over here has. It's an argument for another day, but the majority of the NRL clubs are bigger than us, simply because of the standard of the league.

Kinda like Celtic - a massive club, but their hands are tied behind their back because of the league they are in.

not much bigger they have 11k members/season ticket holders

I don't disagree. It's not me saying Watson isn't up to a Top 4 job. Aren't FC as 'big' a club as, say, Warrington anyway? Subjective, obviously.

Sorry it wasn't directed at you, it's just this issue is one of my bug bears.

I love NRL head coaches, but realistically if they are successful you'll only get 2 seasons max out of them. Even if Lam pulls off the impossible, it will be a false dawn as he'll be snapped up ASAP.

I'd have loved to have seen us gamble on the potential Watson has shown and maybe get 5, 6 or even more years of stability with him.

In regards to Wire Vs Hull, I'd argue Wires academy and consistency sets them above FC. Hull could be huge tho.

Hull are a huge club IMO. I think a Jonh said it could be a stepping stone to then go to a club like Wigan, Saints, Wire etc but if Watson is successful at Hull, I just think he stays there because a successful Hull would pull in big crowds, certainly bigger than Warrington and Saints and the man who turned Hull in to a trophy winning side would be able to write his own cheques.

It’ll be interesting to see how he gets on if he goes there.

Like I said there are some, but there are a lot more where it doesn’t work out.

Such as?

Your big 4 in SL have consistently been proven to be Leeds, Saints, Wire and us.

That’s not debatable it’s fact.

They spend the most year in year out and the expectations are to win trophies year in year out.

I don’t think that is the case with Hull.

Only recently have they spent on a similar level to the 4 mentioned and I don’t think they are currently a club where if you don’t win a trophy in a season the fans start questioning your position.

They are a step up the ladder than Salford without doubt but I don’t see them currently as one of the big 4.

He may well take them to the next level and stay there for years. I hope he does as I think SL needs a strong Hull club.

If he does I’d be expecting him to be linked realistically to any of those mentioned above every time they are having a wobble.

You said you were struggling to think when it has worked, that's why I mentioned them. I'd take him over Lam for sure. He's earned a crack, we don't know whether he's capable of taking the next step or not. We already know that with Lam IMO, he has tried and failed to get it done in too many knockout games, which or course you get no major trophies without in our game.

I still think Lam deserves a chance be to take this team forward next year.

I may be in a minority but I see progression and improvement in our play.

Watson is going to a sleeping giant.

The fact is that Leeds, Wigan and Saints have all had coaching changes whilst Watson’s stock has been rising.

He hasn’t got any of the jobs.

Catalans or Hull (which it looks like he is joining) is a chance for him to show he can do it at a bigger club, but a club that doesn’t expect success.

He will have more pressure and a bigger budget along with bigger personalities to manage.

[urlhttps://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/rugby-league-news/hull-fc-head-coach-watson-4639680[/url
not signed yet

Is he as good as people think? Only had to win 2 games to get to Wembley. Salford had a good season last year led by Jackson Hastings but they have massively failed in the league this year.

Our NRL appointment didn`t fare too well although I for one was happy with the appointment.
We then went for Agar who let`s face it had not done a right lot at previous clubs nor was he anywhere near to being the fans choice.
But he is steadily building and who knows with the inclusion of Sean Long another who would not be at the top of my Christmas list.
We might see Leeds return to being a major player in SL once again.
It`s nice to get a name as your head coach but sometimes the less proven ones can deliver equally as good as Grimmy has already pointed out.